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C. W. STOKES AND H. B. REDDISH.

MEANS FOR HEATING OIL IN OIL TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1919.

- -1,306,288. Patented June 10, 1919.

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'CHARLEY WILLIAM STOKES AND HARRY BELL REDDISH, OIE CUSTER CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR HEATING OIL IN OIL-TANKS.

Application filed January 16, 1919. Serial N 0. 271,428.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLEY WILLIAM STOKES and HARRY BELL REDDIsH, citizens of the United States, and residents of (luster City (P. 0.), McKean county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Heating Oil in Oil- Tanks, of which the following is a specifi-' cation.

Our present invention relates to improvements in means for heating petroleum and other oil in tanks or similar receptacles which are exposed to the weather and climatic changes which result in more or less congestlon. The invention aims to provide a simple and effective apparatus in which all danger of clogging of the piping will be avoided and a free circulation of the oil insured.

With these and other objects in view the invention includes the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined by the appended claims.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is an elevation of my improved apparatus in place in relation to a tank, which latter is shown in a conventional manner. 7 Referring by reference characters to this drawing A designates the tank which is representative of the ordinary, or any desired, form of storage tank. An upwardly extending pipe 1 having an opening at its upper end is pivotally connected at its lower end by a constantly open union 2 with a horizontally disposed pipe 2 located adjacent the bottom of the tank. This pipe 2 extends laterally through the wall of the tank and is connected with a suitable heater 3, which may conveniently take the form of a heating coil heated by any convenient means (not shown).

The heating coil is connected to a return pipe 4: which extends upward to near the surface of the oil, where it connects with a horizontal pipe 4. This latter connects at its end by a T-coupling with a vertical pipe 5, open at top and bottom, this pipe 5 being preferably located in proximity to the pipe 1. The lower end of pipe 5 depends into proximity to the bottom of the tank. We preferably provide pipe 2 with a check valve 2* which will permit flow of oil to the heater,

but prevent its back flow, and also provide said pipe with a plug 52 for removal of any sediment.

In the operation of our improved appara tus the oil heated by the coils flows upward through standard 4 and laterally through pipe 4, imparting heat to the oil near the surface, and then flows down through pipe 5 and is returned to the tank near the bottom thereof. Any gas or vapors generated in the pipe are discharged through the vent or open upper end of pipe 5, whereby they cannot impede the flow of the oil.

Suitable means, such as a rod or chain, indicated at 6, is connected with pipe 1 and extends through the top of the tank, whereby pipe 1 may be adjusted to keep its upper end near to, but slightly below, the surface of the oil.

By this means thin oil is drawn from the tank near the surface which flows freely through the circulating system. Furthermore, owing to the elevated position of the inlet none of the sediment customarily found in the bottom of the oil tanks can find entrance to the inlet pipe and interfere with the free flow of oil.

By locating the inlet pipe adjacent the discharge pipe 5 the warmth derived from said discharge pipe will keep the oil thin and insure its easy flow.

If a float were used to hold the feed pipe in position at the surface of the oil, instead of below the surface, as intended by the applicants, then, if there should be an accidental dislocation of the pipe anywhere, the feed pipe in connection with the horizontal line at the bottom would operate as a siphon to empty the oil from the tank while the float kept its intake constantly open to the oil at its surface.

What we claim is:

1. In combination a tank, a heater outside the tank, a pipe connected with the heater and having an adjustable inlet portion, manually controlled means for adjusting said adjustable portion, and a discharge pipe leading from the heater and discharging near the bottom of the tank.

2. In combination a tank, aheater outside the tank, a pipe connected with the heater having a horizontal portion extending within the tank in proximity to the bottom thereof and having a swiveled intake portion inclining upwardly to near the oil level,

and a return pipe leading from the heater to and across the upper portion of the tank below the normal oil level and having a' depending portion located adjacent the in ing from the heater to the tank, said return '10 pipe having a branch terminating abo-vethe oil level and a branch depending to near the bottom of the tank. 7

In testimony whereof, we aflix our si natures this fourteenth day of December,

1918. l CHARLEY WILLIAM STOKES. HARRY BELL REDDISH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (iommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

